"Afghanistan are top contender to win the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in these conditions," says Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif reckons Afghanistan have a good chance to create history in the ongoing tournament.

On Thursday, Afghanistan became the fifth team to qualify for the Super 8 round in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 after they secured a 7-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea at the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad.

From Group C, the Rashid Khan-led side followed West Indies into the Super 8. This meant that PNG, Uganda and New Zealand have been eliminated from the race to the next round of the ongoing tournament.

They have been convincing in all three departments and have been simply outstanding in their three victories. Rashid’s team started their campaign with a massive win over Uganda by 125 runs. But the more notable victory for them came against New Zealand as they bundled out Kane Williamson’s side for only 75 runs to win by 84 runs. This was followed by another comprehensive performance against PNG.

The form of the Afghanistan players and the conditions in the West Indies have prompted former India batsman Mohammad Kaif to make a strong claim that Rashid Khan’s unit have a good chance of clinching their first ICC silverware at the senior men’s level.

Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif said, “Afghanistan are in good form. Their bowling is in form, where Fazalhaq Farooqi has even picked up a five-wicket haul and Rashid Khan is in form. If we talk about the two openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, they are in great form. Afghanistan are top contenders to win the World Cup in these conditions.”

At the time of writing, Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 167 runs and Fazalhaq Farooqi is the top wicket-taker with 12 scalps. Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai have the two best economy rates in the competition so far, while the Afghan spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will have bigger roles to play as the pitches get tired in the Super 8 stage.

They exactly know how to bowl and bat on which pitch: Mohammad Kaif

Kaif pointed out that Afghanistan played all their group matches in the West Indies which would keep them in good stead going into the Super 8.

“They are playing all their matches here (in the West Indies). They didn’t go to the USA at all. Spending two or three weeks there, they exactly know how to bowl and bat on which pitch. They have got an idea of the conditions and their players have form,” Kaif added.

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